Blood In Stool

Blood in stool is not a true disease; it is just a symptom accompanying a number of pathologic conditions. Usually blood in stool is not serious but it shall never be underestimated.

It is essential to distinguish finding of red bright blood from black blood. Red bright blood found in stool is called enterorrhagia and tarry black smelly blood is called melena. Blood in stool unnoticeable by naked eye is called occult bleeding.

Bright red blood is not digested and it comes from the lower part of the digestive tract. Melena is digested blood, because it comes from higher parts of the digestive tracts from anywhere between mouth and upper two-thirds of small intestine. Bleeding from lower third of the small intestine, colon and rectum causes bright red blood occurrence.

Peptic ulcers can cause long-term minor blood loss into stool that is not visible by naked, but sometimes it can cause a sudden greater bleeding. In this case, blood in stool is visible as black melena. There are often other symptoms such as abdominal pain.

Diverticula are pouches protruding from intestine, they typically occur in distal colon as so-called diverticulosis. They are caused by unhealthy diet with lack of fiber. They can bleed or cause inflammation knows as diverticulitis. There is also a special type of diverticulum known as Meckel's diverticulum. It is a congenital defect of digestive tube located in the small intestine.

These are probably the most common cause of finding blood in stool. Blood is bright red, occurs on the surface of stool and it is also present on toilet paper. If you have these symptoms, do not panic, it is probably connected to hemorrhoids.

All information in this website is written with the best knowledge and intentions of the authors. However, all articles are for informational purposes only and the authors do not take any legal responsibility for their practical application without consulting a doctor.